1. In 1861, Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee captured the town of Romney, West Virginia during the American Civil War. The battle marked the first time that Lee personally led troops into what would become West Virginia, which was still a part of Virginia at the time.

2. On September 23, 1927, the worst school disaster in United States history occurred in the town of Bath (now Berkeley Springs), West Virginia. A natural gas explosion destroyed the consolidated school, killing at least 38 students and teachers, though the true death toll is still unknown.

3. In 1963, the West Virginia Turnpike officially opened to traffic. The 88-mile stretch of interstate highway, also known as Interstate 77, cuts through the state's mountainous terrain and helps connect West Virginia to the rest of the eastern United States.

4. On September 23, 1976, the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia officially became a wilderness area, as designated by the United States Congress. The nearly 1,000-square-mile forest is home to a variety of plants and animals, including several rare and endangered species.

5. In 2009, the West Virginia Division of Culture and History launched an effort to create a new state slogan. The campaign, dubbed "West Virginia: Open for Business," sought to emphasize the state's natural beauty and business-friendly environment. The winning entry, "Wild and Wonderful," was announced on September 23 of that year.